From Underdog To Billboard Chart-Topper: The Story Of The Diwali Riddim
Two things happen when the infectious clap of the Diwali riddim cues: you are either immediately transported to 2002 and the memories therein, or you get to dancing. In some cases, both transpire, and no one is judging.
The Steven ‘Lenky’ Marsden project hosted more than 20 songs with each nailing its own personality. From the legendary mispronunciation of ‘Audi’ by Egg Nog on Party Time with Danny English, and the block party feels of Sean Paul’s Get Busy, to Wayne Wonder’s booed up classic, No Letting Go, and Bounty Killer’s militant cries on Sufferer, the Diwali riddim has earned its stripes among dancehall’s greatest releases.
Interestingly, Marsden struggled to get artistes to form part of the production as they labeled it “the loud rhythm with the annoying clap.”
Speaking with Agent Sasco during a recent Instagram live, Marsden said he created the beat in 1998 (then titled Ethnic Journey) and cited musician Sly Dunbar as inspiration for deviating from the usual sonic. Frustrated with the rejections, Marsden went on tour overseas in 2001 but was forced to return to Jamaica following the 9/11 attacks in the United States.
“Mi pick up back up di riddim and seh mi a start back produce,” Marsden said. “Mi nah lie Sasco, wid the raw rhythm, mi go to one man, two man…everybody a seh, ‘Lenky the rhythm noisy, it nuh sound like waa gwaan. Build something like waa gwaan’. Mi seh, ‘mi nah build nutten like waan gwaan.’”
With only the support of Sasco (then known as Assassin), Zumjay and General Degree, a defeated Marsden compiled the juggling project and handed it to DJ Face before leaving the island once more. When he returned, he was a superstar.
American singer Lumidee and rapper Busta Rhymes were ringing his phone to have some of the Diwali glory, and that was just the start.
“The riddim a run di place. Wayne Wonder deh New York…and him call me and seh, ‘Lenky mi love da riddim ya enuh, mi have a tune fi it enuh.’”
Wonder flew to Jamaica the next day to record No Letting Go, and more artistes came knocking.
“Sean Paul come when the riddim done and done buss…and him get number one,” said Marsden. He received the news of his Billboard feat by none other than the man who inspired him – Sly Dunbar.
Get Busy kicked 50 Cent’s In Da Club from the top position on the Hot 100 chart, while No Letting Go peaked at number 16. Later in 2003, Lumidee’s Never Leave You peaked at number three on the same chart.
The riddim has since been sampled by several artistes including Rihanna on Pon De Replay (2005), Brick & Lace on Love is Wicked (2007), Ed Sheeran on Shape of You (2017), and DJ Snake on Let Me Love You (2016) which features Justin Beiber.
So much for a noisy rhythm with an annoying clap. Stream songs from the original Diwali Riddim below.